ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece accused Turkey on Tuesday of trying to invade its continental shelf in a serious escalation of tensions between the two NATO allies at odds over a number of issues.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis gestures as he meets German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas at the Maximos mansion in Athens, Greece, on July 21, 2020. REUTERS / Costas Baltas
Turkey and Greece disagree over overlapping requests for hydrocarbon resources, focused more intensely by attempts by EU member Cyprus to also explore for natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean amid strong Turkish objections.
On Tuesday, the Turkish navy issued a notice known as Navtex for seismic studies in an area of the sea between Cyprus and Crete. The notice will be in effect until August 20.
Seismic studies are part of the preparatory work for possible hydrocarbon exploration. The Greek Foreign Ministry said the notice covered part of the Greek continental shelf.
“We call on Turkey to immediately cease these illegal actions that violate our sovereign rights and undermine peace and security in the area,” it said in a statement.
A protest had been filed with the Turkish Foreign Ministry while briefing the United Nations, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, NATO and the European Union.
There were no immediate comments from Turkey. Ankara says it is within her sovereign rights to explore for resources in areas she considers her continental shelf.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said early Tuesday that, unless Turkey backs down, European Union sanctions against its NATO ally could be unavoidable.
“As long as Turkey continues down this path, sanctions against Turkey will be a one-way street,” he told German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who was visiting Athens.
Greece and Turkey have had irritable relationships for decades, with occasional outbreaks. There was a strong exchange of words earlier this year, when thousands of migrant hosts from Turkey attempted to force their entry into Greece.
They also disagree on ethnically divided Cyprus. Greece is also angered by a Turkish-Libyan agreement that sets maritime borders that border the southern Greek island of Crete.
Report by Michele Kambas; Editing by Mark Heinrich
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